Richard Sherman did ‘a great job’ coaching, but two Bucs assistants to return this week

TAMPA ― The Bucs secondary has never played better this season than it did in Sunday’s 38-3 win over the Bears, combining for three interceptions, a sack and a forced fumble.

Credit defensive back Richard Sherman, who was out with a hamstring injury but wore a headset and helped coach during the week and on Sunday.

Cornerbacks coach Kevin Ross and offensive assistant A.Q. Shipley were out last week with COVID-19. Both assistants should return either Tuesday or Wednesday, coach Bruce Arians said.

In the meantime, Sherman contributed as an assistant coach, and the results speak for itself.

Dee Delaney, Jordan Whitehead and Pierre Desir each intercepted Bears quarterback Justin Fields. Safety Antoine Winfield Jr. sacked Fields and forced a fumble that Chicago recovered.

““Richard Sherman did a great job,” Arians said. “(Ross) should be back, hopefully, Tuesday. Tuesday or Wednesday. A.Q. Shipley was also out with it.

“Sherm did a great job all week. He’s such a bright guy, and he knows what we’re doing now. He can pick up those little things. He did a great job during the game talking to those guys also.”

Thirty-eight is good, not great

Arians was very impressed with quarterback Tom Brady, who made some pinpoint passes while throwing four touchdowns, including three to Mike Evans. He also was not sacked.

“We’re doing such a great job of keeping him clean,” Arians said. “You’re not going to throw anything at him he hasn’t seen, it’s just whether or not he feels like he can fit it in there. There were a couple balls I think he was real careful with.

“But such a great job. Those balls in the red zone were great throws. The one to Chris (Godwin) on the back shoulder and all three to Mike were great balls. Mike did a good job of beating double coverage.”

But Arians wasn’t completely satisfied. The Bucs failed to score touchdowns despite having the ball two other times inside the Bears’ 2-yard line.

“I get a little upset, you know,” he said. “Thirty-eight points two years ago, I would have been jumping up and down. But it’s nice to be able to get 38 and be able to come in and coach hard.”

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